Despite extensive searches Arlene’s remains have never been found. In eight years of preliminary proceedings a number of fixed hearing dates have been scrapped due to delays in disclosing papers.

At a brief preliminary hearing in Belfast’s Laganside court complex, a PSNI barrister said 33 files had been handed over since last Friday and promised a further 10 would be ready by the end of this week. He added the remainder would be disclosed by the end of the month.

Kevin Rooney said: “They have been working flat out to try to get this exercise completed.”

Issues with disclosure are understood to centre on heavy redactions on the documentation and the human rights of individuals whose identities have been protected.

Mr Sherrard said he wanted to hear how officers intended to “get over” obstacles currently holding up the process.

He added: “We find ourselves in a situation where we are constantly readdressing this timetable. It compromises the integrity of the inquest.”

However, the coroner agreed to adopt a wait-and-see approach – saying he did not want to introduce an “aggravating delay”.

In 2005, Howard was acquitted of Arlene’s murder but the trial jury was unaware of his history of sex attacks and his conviction for strangling London teenager Hannah Williams four years earlier.

The 71-year-old, who was serving a life sentence at HMP Frankland in Co Durham, had been due to give evidence at an inquest scheduled for September – but it was postponed. He died on October 2.